Management Concern: Moderate     Adequacy of Information: Low

Summary extracts from Outlook Report 2009

• Little is known about most non-commercial invertebrate species.
• Some crustaceans, such as prawns and crabs, are important in Great Barrier Reef fisheries. Other invertebrates such as trochus, pearl oysters and sea cucumber have been harvested at various times. The status of most species appears to be stable.
• Illegal fishing is a threat to the Great Barrier Reef ecosystem. Incidents detected include incursion of foreign fishing vessels, fishing in zones closed to fishing, and use of fishing equipment or methods in zones where they are not permitted.
• It appears that human impacts have increased the frequency and severity of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks.
• Almost all Great Barrier Reef species will be affected by climate change, some seriously.
  

What do we know? (relevant pages from Outlook Online)

• Seabed invertebrate biodiversity
• Historical pearl shell fishery
• Beche de mer fishery in the Great Barrier Reef
• Vulnerability of benthic invertebrates of the Great Barrier Reef to climate change
  
• Crown-of-thorns starfish in the Great Barrier Reef
  
• A review of possible causes and consequences of crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks
  
• Regulation of crown-of-thorns starfish by fish predators
  
• Nutrient inputs and outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish
• No-take reserves protect coral reefs from predatory starfish

Existing policies and management actions

• The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan
  
• Policy on managing activities that include the direct take of a Protected Species from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
  
• Fisheries: legislative management arrangements
• Fisheries: other management tools
• Fisheries: information systems 
• Implementation of WTO conditions and recommendations from the latest EPBC assessment: progress by fishery
• East coast fin fish fishery independent review
• Queensland Fisheries Strategy 2009-2014
• Queensland Fisheries policies and legislation
  
• Queensland Fisheries monitoring 
• Queensland Management of Commercial Fisheries
  
• Queensland Management of Recreational Fisheries
• Australian Government policy on climate change
• Queensland Government climate change policies and strategies
• Climate Change Action Plan 2007-2012

Future management requirements

• Biodiversity Strategy
  

Defined research questions

• There are currently no defined research questions for this topic. Research questions will be developed, giving priority to interactions/issues that are of most concern to management.

Current Research and Monitoring